Bibbcosr feeding aetd reversing mechanism



'M. G. STANDLEY AND c. E. POE. RIBBON FEEDING AND RE-VERSING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 24, I9I9I Patented June 27, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M. G. STANDLEY AND C. E. POE.

RIBBON FEEDING AND REVERSING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 5 100 M'oM.

MEREDITH G. STANDLEY AND CHARLES E. POE, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO,

RIBBON" FEEDING AND REVERSING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

iatented June 27, 19273- Application filed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 325,966.

United Estates, and residing at Cincinnati, in V the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful improve ment in Ribbon Feeding and Reversing Mechanism, of which the following speciii cation is a full disclosure.

Our invention relates to an improvement in inking ribbon feed and reversing n1echanism, although particularly embodied in and adaptable for a device commercially known as a hand stamp, or receipting register, can be readily embodiedin the devices in which it is desirable to feed a web in successive advancements or intermittently from one spindle to another and alternately.

An object of the invention is to provide an inking ribbon feed and reversing mechanism for successively advancing the inking ribbon in step movementsacross a printing plate onto a second and alternately after the ribbon has been fully unwound from one spindle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inking ribbon feed and reversing mechanism of simple construction, positive and ei'licient in operation, and in which a pair of opposite ribbon rewinding spindles, to which the ends of the ribbon are respective secured, are actuated by a single actuator alternately after a full unwinding from one spindle to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reversing pawl and ratchet mechanism of a single spring pressed pawl member fulcrumed for alternately engaging its pawl arms, each with a respective ratchet means, the pawl members shiftable upon its fulcrum to bring the pressure of the spring alternately at opposite sides of the fulcrum for swinging thesame into and out of coopera tive positions with their ratchet wheels.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more fully set forth-in the description of the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in the drawings like characters of reference denoting corresponding parts throughout the several views, of which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved hand stamp of a size for the user to carry in his pocket.

Fig. is a plan view of the base plate upon which the inking ribbon or web and recor ling strip or web are mounted.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the device shown in Fig. 1.

' Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism within the casing, and .one side of the casingfoinfeeding and rewiuding the recording strip or web, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the mechanism for feeding the inking ribbon, to which the invention is priinarily directed.

'ihe stamp embodies the general principles of constructioi'ras disclosed in a patent to Meredith Standley and Arthur E. Bowman, No. 1,311,189, for receipting stamp and register, date July 29, 1919.

.This type of device, a portable printing stamp, in the nature of an oblong box-like structure, of asize convenient to be carried in the pocket, is principally used in connection with sales or collection systems for issuing a receipt, printing the amount, date, identifying indications orother data of the sales transaction upon sales slip, wrapper of the package of. the article sold, or piece of paper inserted in the machine. A record entry of the printedimpression is made, as a manifold copy, upon a record web within the casing of the machine, with the impression made by compressing the printing platen and easing together. The printing impression is made by a series of type disks within the machine, manually set by the oporator.

lieferr ng to the drawings, 1 indicates a casing of rectangular form, having a platen 3 hinged thereto at one end below the base 3 of the casing. The sales slip or piece of paper to be printed upon is inserted upon the platen between the platen and the base 3 of the casing, after which the parts are compressed together 01' the platen moved toward the base against the exposed surfaces of the type wheels 5 mounted within the casing and projecting through slot in the base The platen may be actuated by a hand lever 13, or the frame and platen may be compressed together manually, following the principle of operation disclosed in the patent to iii. G. Standley and C. W. Gosnell, No. 1,206,766, dated November 26, 1916, for hand stamps.

The mechanism for operating the platen and record web-feeding mechanism, as herein shown, is substantially the same as that disclosed in the aforesaid prior application. The platen 2 about intermediate of its length and at opposite sides thereof, is previded with a pair of lugs or ears 6 connected by cross-rod 7, see Fig. 4, which rod also serves as a guide for the record strip. The cross-rod 7 engages intoa cam notch 8 formed in each of a pair of side plates 9 and 10 respectively, slidably mounted on opposite walls of a frame mounted and secured within the casing, and may form a part of the casing. Each slide plate is slidably mounted to its side wall by headed pins or studs respectively engaged through ob long slots in the slide plate. Thus, as the slide plates 9 and 10 are moved longitudinally in one direction, the cross rod 7 is engaged into the notches 8 of the slide plates and against the cam surfaces formed by said notches, which surfaces are of a proper angle to draw the platen toward the base plate of the casing, bringing the platen into engagement with the type wheels. Moving the slide plates in opposite or reverse direction, releases the platen, which, under the pressure of a spring, is moved outwardly. The slide plates are each provided with a link 11, connecting respectively with a crank arm 12, fixed upon the shaft 13, journaled in the side walls of the frame with one end of the shaft projecting exteriorly of the easing to which the hand lever 13 is fixed.

Record web feeding mechanism.

The slide plate 9, aside from its function to actuate the platen, also provides means for operating the web-feeding mechanism. The web-feeding mechanism, as shown in Fig. 4, consists of a spring tension pawl 14, pivoted upon the slide plate 9, having its hooked or toothed end engaging with a ratchet wheel 15, fixed on the end of a web rewinding spindle 17. A spring 18, fixed to the slide-plate 9, connects with the pawl for forcing the tooth end thereof downward into engagement with the ratchet wheel 15. The pawl on each left or return stroke of theslide-plate engages with a tooth of the ratchet wheel for partially rotating the ratchet Wheel, and the web rewinding spindle suiiiciently to feed the record strip 19, advancing the record strip a definite distance for bringing a successive printing space beneath the type wheels 5. The record strip is unwound from a supply roll 20, carried by a spindle 21, journaled in the side walls of the frames. This adjusts the record strip after each impression in a step advancement. The record strip is of a transparent material so that the printing characters, which are reversely impressed thereon, may be read through the transparent record strip. The record strip moves tangent to the type wheels and is in contact with the inking ribbon at the point at which it is engaged by the type wheels, and i is located between the type wheels and inking ribbon. The inking ribbon being exposed through the type wheel opening in the base of the casing, for making an impression upon the article to be stamped, is inserted between the platen and base of the casing. The type wheels 5 are manually set by rack bars 21, which can be adjusted for bringing a selected type character on each type wheel into a printing position, projecting through the opening in the base of the casing.

The inking ribbon feeding mechanism, to which the invention herein is particularly directed, comprises a pawl member 23, slidably and pivotally mounted upon the slideplate 10, see Fig. 5, by means of a screw or headed pin 21, secured into the slideplate and engaging through an enlarged rectangular slot 25 formed in the central portion of the pawl member 23. One arm of the pawl member is arranged when prop erly adjusted to engage with the ratchet Wheel 26, for rotating said ratchet wheel with each forward, to the right, stroke of the slide-plate 10, intermittently rotating the ratchet wheel in a clockwise direction. The ratchet wheel 26 is fixed upon a spindle 27, journaled in a pair of hearings or bracket extensions 28, fixed to or projecting from the base plate 3. The opposite arm 30 of the pawl member engages with a ratchet wheel 31, when the pawl member is appropriately adjusted or set for intermittently rotating the ratchet wheel 31 in a counter clockwise direction, or in a direction reverse to the rotation of ratchet wheel 26, for reversing the direction of ribbon feed. The ratchet wheel 31 is fixed to a spindle 32 journaled in bearings or bracket extensions fixed to or projecting from the base plate 3 at an opposite side of the type wheels from that of the spindle 27. 32 represents a spring engaging against the periphery of the ratchet wheel 31 for applying a friction or tension upon the ratchet wheel for maintaining and winding the inking ribbon tautly upon the spindle. The ratchet wheel 26 is provided with a similar spring 32 for the same purpose. The ends of the inking ribbon 34 are fixed or secured respectively to the spindles 27 and 32, and in the alternate operation of the ratchet wheels is unwound from one spindle and wound upon the other spindle in step advances, with each operation of the hand lever 5 to present a fresh inking surface to the type wheels with each impression. The pawl member is automatically shifted for reversing the feeding operation after the ribbon has been fully unwound from one -wheel against rotation.

spindle. The pawl member 23 at its lower edge, at opposite sides of a central line through the pawl, is provided with a pair of V-notches 33, 33, into which a tooth or knife-edge connector lug 35, fixed to and projecting from the slide-plate 10, alternately engages to connect the pawl member with the slide member and provide a fulcrum for the pawl member for alternately swinging the pawl arms of the pawl. member into or out of engagement with their respective ratchet wheels. As shown in Fig. 5, the tooth connector lug 35 is engaged into the V-notch 33 for swinging the pawl arm 30 downward into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 31, for rotating the ratchet wheel 31 with each power stroke of the walled member and slide-plate to the left. When the lug 35 is engaged into the V-notch 33, the pawl member is swung in an opposite direction, swinging its pawl arm 36 into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 26, throwing the pawl arm 30 out of operative position with its respective ratchet wheel 31. On the edge of the pawl member, opposite the edge having the V- notches, a V-lug or tooth 37 is provided, projecting therefrom, and its apex being on a line central through the pawl member. The lug 37 is alternately engaged at its opposite inclined sides by a spring 38, fixed to the slide-plate 10, exerting a pressure against the pawl member, and rocking the same in an appropriate direction for alternately swinging the pawl arms yieldingly into their cooperative positions with their respective ratchet wheels. Thus, when the end of the spring 38 is engaged upon the right side of the tooth lug 37, as shown in Fig. 5, and the lug 35 is engaged in the notch 33, a downward pressure is exerted upon the pawl arm 30, yieldingly depressing the arm into engagement with the ratchet wheel 31., and the pawl arm 36 is swung away from its ratchet wheel 26, so that it cannot engage therewith. Shifting the pawl member to the right provides for a reverse operation of the parts. The pawl member is automatically shifted after theinking ribbon has been fully unwound from one spindle by a withholding or pulling strain on the unwound end of the ribbon connecting with the spin die. 7 This prevents further rewinding of the ribbon and holds the spindle, upon which the ribbon has been rewound, and its ratchet The ratchet wheel under such condition serves as a stop or abutment for the engaged end of the pawl member, withholding the pawl member against longitudinal motion in a direction toward the ratchet wheel with which it is engaged. Now, as the slide plate is moved toward said pawl engaged ratchet wheel, the knife-edge lug 35 engages the inclined surface of the V-notch 33 leading toward the V-notch 33 which causes the pawl member to be shifted in a lateral or upward direction, swinging on or about the ratchet wheel with which its pawl arm is engaged, until the lug 35 rides over the apex of the tooth division of the notches and into the second notch. The lug 37 on the opposite edge of the pawl member is correspondingly transposed in its engagement with the spring 38, so that as soon as the central point of the pawl member is passed, it will be snapped and rocked into an alternate position for a ribbon feed reversal.

WVith the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5, and assuming that the ribbon has been fully unwound from spindle 27 upon spindle 32, with the unwound end of the ribbon connected upon spindle 27, anchoring the ratchet wheel against rotation, it will be observed that as the slide-plate 10 is moved to the left, the pawl will be held stationary against longitudinal motion, free to swing upward upon the ratchet wheel 31 as a fulcrum. The lug 35, as the slideplate 10 moves to the left, will raise the pawl member against the tension of the spring 38, until the lug 35, passes out of the notch 33, when the pawl member will be quickly shifted to the right and rocked to bring the pawl arm 36 downwardly to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 26, whereby the ratchet wheel 26 will be intermittently rotated with each slide-plate reciprocating unwinding of the ribbon from the spindle 32 upon the spindle 27 in step advancements with each printing impression, after which the parts will operate reversely, as heretofore described for a ribbon feed reversal.

This mechanism therefore provides a single yielding pawl member alternately cooperating with right and left ratchet wheels automatically transferable from one position to another after a definite length of advancement of the inking ribbon in one direction to change or reverse the direction of ribbon feed.

This is a very simple arrangement with no delicate parts, it is very positive in its operation and very durable.

Having described our invention, we claim 1. In a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of spindles journalled in said frame, each having an end of a ribbon secured thereto for rewinding the ribbon from one spindle onto the other, ratchet wheels fixed to said spindles, one to each thereof, a reciprocating slide member, a pawl member fulcrumed upon said slide member shiftable upon its fulcrum to alternate sides of' a balancing position, for cooperating with one ratchet wheel and non-cooperating with the opposite ratchet wheel, and a spring adapted to engage said pawl member alternately at opposite sides of its fulcrum for swinging and yieldingly urging said pawl member into engagement with a respective ratchet wheel.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of spindles journalled in said frame, each having an end of a ribbon secured thereto for rewinding the ribbon from one spindle onto another, ratchet wheels fixed to said spindles, one to each thereof, a pawl carrying slide member, a pawl fulcrumed upon said slide member and reciprocable in direction of its length with the slide member, and automatically adjustable about its fulcrum in direction of its length for alternate engagement with said ratchet wheels, upon the arrest of rotation of the engaged ratchet when its web has reached its winding limit.

3. An inking ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism, comprising a pair of spindles each having a ratchet wheel and an end of a ribbon secured thereto, the ratchet wheels relatively arranged to rotate said spindles in opposite directions, a pivoted pawl member, longitudinally disposed between and alternately engaging said ratchet wheels, means for supporting and reciprocating said pawl member, and a spring for rocking said pawl member and yieldingly urgin the same into engagement with one of said ratchet wheels, said pawl member being shiftable upon its support for alternately exerting the spring pressure on opposite sides of the fulcrum of said pawl member to rock the same into and out of ratchet wheel engagement.

4;. In a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of spindles journalled in said frame, each having an end of aribbon secured thereto for rewinding the ribbon from one spindle onto the other, ratchet wheels fixed tosaid spindles, one to each thereof, a pawl member longitudinally disposed therebetween for alternately engaging said ratchet wheels, means for supporting and reciprocating said pawl member, and a spring adapted to engage said pawl member alternately at opposite sides of its fulcrum for swinging and yieldingly urging said pawl member into engagement with a respective ratchet wheel.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of spindles journalled in said frame, each having an end of a ribbon secured thereto for rewinding the ribbon from one spindle onto the other, ratchet wheels fixed to said spindles, one to each thereof and arranged for rotating said spindles in relative counter directions, a laterally shiftable and swinging pawl member for intermittently rotating one of said ratchet wheels when in cooperation therewith, and a spring engaging said pawl member, at one side of its fulcrum, said pawl member being shiftable on its fulcrum for diverting the tension of the spring at opposite sides of pawl fulcrum for rocking said pawl member.

6. In a device of the class described, a pair of ratchet wheels arranged to be positively rotated in relative reverse directions, a pawl member loosely mounted on a reciprocating member, cooperating with said ratchet wheels alternately, a reciprocating member carrying said pawl member and providing a fulcrum for said pawl memher and a spring for depressing one side of said pawl member into engagement with a respective ratchet wheel, said pawl member being shiftable upon said reciprocating member for diverting the spring pressure upon an opposite side of the pawl member for cooperation with the other ratchet wheel.

7. In a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of spindles journalled in said frame. each having an end of a ribbon secured thereto for rewinding the ribbon from one spindle onto the other, ratchet wheels fixed to said spindles, one to each thereof, and arranged for rotating said spindles in relative counter directions, a pawl for alternately rotating said ratchet wheels, a reciprocating member pivotally supporting and reciprocating said pawl, a spning for depressing said pawl into engagement with one of said ratchet wheels, said pawl being shiftable upon said member, transferring the spring pressure to opposite sides of the pawl fulcrum for rocking said pawl member for alternate ratchet wheel cooperation, the ribbon when secured upon one spindle withholding the spindle and its ratchet wheel against rotation in a ribbon winding direction, and thereby arresting the pawl during a power stroke automatically shifting said pawl upon said reciprocating member.

8. In a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of spindles journalled in said frame. each having an end of a ribbon secured thereto for rewinding the ribbon from one spindle onto another, ratchet wheels fixed to said spindles, one to each thereof, a pawl carrying slide member, a pawl fulcrumed upon said slide member and reciprocable in direction of its length with the slide member and automatically adjustable about its fulcrum in direction of its length for alternate engagement with said ratchet wheels, upon the arrest of rotation of the engaged ratchet when its web has reached its winding limit, and during the continued movement of said slide member.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names, as attested by the two subscribing witnesses.

MEREDITH G. STANDLEY. CHARLES E. POE.

lVitnesses:

L. A. BECK, MILDRED BARRON. 

